Latching mechanism

ABSTRACT

An exemplary latching mechanism for connecting a first component ( 20 ) and a second component ( 40 ). The latching mechanism includes at least one first engaging portion ( 408 ) formed/defined on the second component, at least one latch holder ( 60   a   , 60   b ) fixed relative to the first component, and at least one first latching member ( 80   a   , 80   b ). A first latch-clasping piece ( 604 ) extends from the at least one latch holder. The at least one first latching member has at least one second engaging portion ( 806 ). The second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the second component. The first engaging portion of the second component and the first latching member are disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component. The present invention further provides an electronic device employing the latching mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to latching mechanisms, particularly to a latching mechanism employed in an electronic device.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Components of electronic devices are generally protected by a housing. The housing surrounds or encloses the electronic parts to be protected. Most housing are not a single integral body but are several parts assembled together by latching mechanisms to form an integrated unit. If the latching mechanisms are easily detachable from the housing the protection offered by the housing may be compromised.

A typical latching mechanism used in electronic devices may includes screws or nuts and bolts for connecting the housings together. However, the screws or nuts and bolts are unsightly and may affect the overall appearance of the electronic device. In addition, assembly efficiency is low because the screws or nuts and bolts should be assembled one by one. Furthermore, the housings of the electronic device can be detached from each other easily because of easy access to the screws and the nuts and bolts and any visible indication of this intrusion may not be possible. Thus, the electronic device can be disassembled and valuable intellectual property can be duplicated or copied easily.

Therefore, a latching mechanism, for housings of electronic devices, which is easy to assembly, and thereby reducing assembling time, and difficult to be detached from an electronic device without damaging components and/or the latching mechanism is desired.

SUMMARY

An exemplary latching mechanism for connecting a first component and a second component. The latching mechanism for the first and second components includes an engaging portion formed/defined on the second component, a latch holder fixed relative to the first component, and a first latching member. A first latch-clasping piece extends from the latch holder. The first latching member has a second engaging portion. The second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the second component. The first engaging portion of the second component and the first latching member are disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component. The present invention further provides an electronic device employing the latching mechanism.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and all the views are schematic.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a latching mechanism for housings of an electronic device connected by the latching mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a first housing of the electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the latching mechanism of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled, isometric view of the latching mechanism and the housings of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism connecting the housings along line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a position VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a position VII of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism is usually employed in electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and laptop computers. The electronic devices include two housings that need to be connected together. It can be understood that the latching mechanism may also be used to connect two other components other than housings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the latching mechanism used to connect a first housing 20 and a second housing 40 includes latch holders 60 a, 60 b, and first latching members 80 a, 80 b.

Also referring to FIG. 2, the first housing 20 is approximately a rectangular-shaped member. The first housing 20 includes a bottom base 202, two first sidewalls 204 extending perpendicularly from two opposite sides of the base 202, and two second sidewalls 206 extending perpendicularly from another two opposite sides of the bottom base 202. The second sidewalls 206 are joining to the first sidewalls 204 correspondingly, and the second sidewalls 206 are perpendicular to the first sidewalls 204. A slot 208 is defined in each of the first sidewalls 204 from an inner side of the first sidewalls 204. The first housing 20 may be other shapes different from a rectangle.

The second housing 40 is approximately a rectangular-shaped frame. The second housing 40 includes two first rims 402 disposed at two opposite sides of the housing 40 and two second rims 404 disposed at another two opposite sides. The second rims 404 are joining to the first rims 402 correspondingly, and the second rims 404 are perpendicular to the first rims 402. A second latching member 406 extends from each of the first rims 402, and at least one hooking member 408 extends from each of the second latching member 406. The at least one hooking member 408 extends outwards of the second housing 40 perpendicularly. In the embodiment, three hooking members 408 extend from each of the second latching members 406.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the latch holder 60 a includes a main portion 602, a first latch-clasping piece 604, and a plurality of second latch-clasping pieces 606 spaced from each other in a first predetermined manner. In the embodiment, the latch holder 60 a includes two second latch-clasping pieces 606. The main portion 602 is an elongated strip. The first latch-clasping piece 604 extends from a lateral edge of the latch holder 60 a. The second latch-clasping pieces 606 extend from another lateral edge of the latch holder 60 a opposite to the first latch-clasping piece 604 and on a same side of the latch holder 60 a. The first latch-clasping piece 604 is an elongated strip. An interspace 609 is defined between the first latch-clasping piece 604 and the second latch-clasping pieces 606. A groove 610 is defined in each second latch-clasping piece 606.

The first latching member 80 a includes a base 802 and a plurality of resilient members 804 spaced apart from each other in the first predetermine manner corresponding the second latch-clasping pieces 606. In the embodiment, the first latching member 80 a includes three resilient members 804. The base 802 is an elongated strip. Each of the resilient members 804 extends from a side of the base 802 and immediately forms a 180 degrees U-shaped bend relative to the base 802. A clearance 807 is defined between the base 802 and the resilient members 804. An end of each resilient member 804 is bended slightly towards a direction of the base 802, thereby forming a resilient slider 805. A hook catch hole 806 is defined in each of the resilient members 804. The first latching member 80 a is elastic so that the resilient members 804 can bend slightly towards to or away from the base 802 under an external force.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, when assembling the first and second housings 20, 40 together, firstly, the latch holder 60 a and the first latching member 80 a is aligned next to each other such that the base 802 of the first latching member 80 a is received in the groove 610 of the latch holder 60 a, and the resilient members 804 of the first latching member 80 a are received in the interspace 609 of the latch holder 60 a and correspond to the grooves 610. Then the latch holder 60 a and the first latching member 80 a are disposed at an internal side of one of the first sidewalls 204 of the first housing 20. The base 802 of the first latching member 80 a is adjacent to the first sidewall 204 and received in one corresponding slot 208 of the first housing 20. Next, the latch holder 60 a is fixed to the first housing 20. In this embodiment, the latch holder 60 a is fixed to the first housing 20 by adhesive. However, the latch holder 60 a may also be fixed by other means such as bolts or rivets. Finally, the second housing 40 is coupled to the first housing 20 such that the second latching members 406 of the second housing 40 and the hooking members 408 on the second latching member 406 enter a space defined between the first latch-clasping piece 604 correspondingly. The resilient sliders 805 guides the hooking members 408 and substantially deform the resilient members 804 as a whole by a pushing force of the hooking members 408 on the second housing 40. When the second housing 40 is pushed into a certain position such that the second latching member 406 is at a certain position of the space between the first latch-clasping piece 604 and resilient members 804 correspondingly, the hooking members 408 of the second housing 40 are hooked in the hook catch hole 806. The resilient members 804 of the first latching member 80 a returns to a normal form at rest. Thereby, the second housing 40 is securely coupled to the first housing 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, a structure of the latch holder 60 b is similar to that of the latch holder 60 a, and a structure of the first latching member 80 b is similar to that of the first latching member 80 a. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, engagement mechanisms of the latch holder 60 b and the first latching member 80 b are the same as the engagement mechanisms of the latch holder 60 a and the first latching member 80 a. The latch holder 60 b and the first latching member 80 b engages with another first sidewall 204 of the first housing 20 and another second latching member 406 of the second housing 40 in a same manner as the latch holder 60 a and the first latching member 80 a engaging with the first and second housings 20, 40. After assembly, the latch holders 60 a, 60 b, the first latching members 80 a, 80 b, the slots 208 of the first housing 20, and the hooking members 408 of the second housing 40 cooperatively connect the first and second housings 20, 40 together. The hooking members 408 of the second housing 40 and the first latching members 80 a, 80 b are set between the first housing 20 and the latch holders 60 a, 60 b fixed to the first housing 20 and are not exploded. Therefore, an engagement between the second housing 40 and the first latching members 80 a, 80 b cannot be disassembled without damaging any components of the first and second housings 20, 40, the first and latch holders 60 a, 60 b, or the first and first latching members 80 a, 80 b. It can be seen that the first and second housings 20, 40 cannot be disassembled without damaging such components.

Alternatively, other catching mechanisms can be formed on the first and second housings 20, 40 in order to connect the first and second housings 20, 40 more securely. The first latching members 80 a, 80 b may also be fixed on the first housing 20. The latch holders 60 a, 60 b and the first latching members 80 a, 80 b can be integrally formed with the first housing 20. The hooking members 408 may extend from the first latching members 80 a, 80 b, and the hook catch hole 806 is defined in the second housing 40 correspondingly.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention. 

1. A latching mechanism for connecting a first component and a second component, the latching mechanism comprising: at least one first engaging portion formed on the second component; at least one latch holder fixed to the first component, a first latch-clasping piece extending from the at least one latch holder; and at least one first latching member having at least one second engaging portion, the second engaging portion engaging with the first engaging portion of the second component, and the first engaging portion of the second component and the first latching member disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component.
 2. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first engaging portion is a hooking member extending from an outside of the second component and the second engaging portion is a hook catch hole defined in the first latching member.
 3. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion is a hook catch hole defined in the second component and the second engaging portion is a protrusion extending from the first latching member.
 4. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one slot defined in the first component, the at least one slot faces the first latch-clasping piece of one corresponding latch holder, and each of the at least one first latching member comprises a base received in the at least one slot of the first component.
 5. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the at least one latch holder further comprises at least one second latch-clasping piece, the at least one second latch-clasping piece leans against to the base of one of the at least one first latching member and is disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component, each of the at least one first latching member further comprises at least one resilient member formed on the base and being parallel to the base, and the second engaging portion is defined in the resilient member.
 6. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism comprises two slots defined in two sidewalls extending from two opposite sides of the first component, at least two first engaging portions formed on each of two second latching members extending from two opposite sides of the second component, two latch holder and two first latching members, each of the first latching members is received in one of the slots.
 7. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein an interspace is defined between the first latch-clasping piece and the second latch-clasping piece of the latch holder, a clearance is defined between the resilient member and the base of the first latching member, and the second latch-clasping piece of the latch holder is corresponding to a position of the clearance of the first latching member.
 8. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component is approximately rectangular-shaped member, the first component has a bottom base, two first sidewalls extending from two opposite sides of the bottom base, and two second sidewalls extending perpendicularly from another two opposite sides of the bottom base and connecting the first sidewalls correspondingly.
 9. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the latch holder further comprises a main portion, the main portion and the first latch-clasping piece are elongated strips, the first latch-clasping piece extends from a lateral edge of the latch holder, and the second latch-clasping pieces extend from another lateral edge of the latch holder opposite to the first latch-clasping piece an on a same side of the latch holder.
 10. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second component is approximately a rectangular-shaped frame, the second component comprises two first rims disposed at two opposite sides and two second rims disposed at another two opposite sides, the second rims are joining to the first rims, the second latching member extends from each of the first rims, and the at least one first engaging portion extends from each of the second latching member, the at least one first engaging portion extend towards an outside of the second component.
 11. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base of the first latching member is an elongated strip, each of the at least one resilient member extends from an side of the first latching member and immediately forms a 180 degrees U-shaped bend relative to the base, an end of each resilient member is slightly bended towards a direction of the base thereby forming a resilient slider so as to guide one of the second latching members of the second component and the first engaging portions on the second latching member enter a space defined between the first latch-clasping piece and the resilient members.
 12. The latching mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein each first latching member is elastic so that the base and resilient members can be forced slightly close to or apart from each other.
 13. An electronic device comprising: a first component; a second component connected to the first component, the second component forming a first engaging portion; at least one latch holder fixed relative to the first component, a first latch-clasping piece extending from the at least one latch holder; and at least one first latching member having at least one second engaging portion, wherein the second engaging portion engaging with the first engaging portion of the second component, and the first engaging portion of the second component and the first latching member disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component.
 14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first engaging portion is a hooking member extends from an outer side of the second component and the second engaging portion is a hook catch hole defined in the first latching member.
 15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first engaging portion is a hook catch hole defined in the second component and the second engaging portion is a hooking member extends from the first latching member.
 16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first component defines at least one slot, the at least one slot faces the first latch-clasping piece of one corresponding latch holder, and each of the at least one first latching member comprises a base received in the at least one slot of the first component.
 17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the at least one latch holder further comprises at least one second latch-clasping piece, the at least one second latch-clasping piece leans against to the base of one of the at least one first latching member and is disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component, each of the at least one first latching member further comprises at least one resilient member extended from the base and being parallel to the base, and the second engaging portion is defined in the resilient member.
 18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein an interspace is defined between the first latch-clasping piece and the second latch-clasping piece of the latch holder, a clearance is defined between the resilient member and the base of the first latching member, and the second latch-clasping piece of the latch holder is corresponding to a position of the clearance of the first latching member.
 19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 19, wherein each first latching member is elastic so that the base and resilient members can be forced slightly close to or apart from each other
 20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the latching mechanism comprises two slots defined in two sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the first component, at least two first engaging portions forming on each of two second latching members extending from opposite sides of the second component, two latch holder and two first latching members, each of the first latching members is received in one of the slots. 